How often do you wash bedding? You may be surprised

Our bedding is a place where dangerous allergens develop – bacteria, mites and fungi. There is also the hair of domestic animals. Therefore, bedding should be washed at least every two weeks, although according to American microbiologists we should do it once a week.

1. In our bedding you can find mites, bacteria, pet dander and a dozen species of fungi
2. Therefore, it should be washed weekly, maximum every two weeks. The same goes for the sheets. We should combine the change of bedding with vacuuming the mattress
3. To get rid of mites, bedding should be washed at 60 degrees, unless the information on the label says otherwise
4. You can find more such stories on the Onet homepage.

Bedding – a habitat for mites, fungi and hair

Our bed, mattress and linens are habitats for bacteria and mites. The mites feed on the remnants of the epidermis, which we lose every night in the amount of about 1,5 g. They are favored by high humidity and temperature above 20 degrees C. Legs and mite feces cause runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, skin problems, contribute to the development allergies, asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Due to the sweat we emit, fungi also grow in the bedding. Experts from the New York University School of Medicine examined several thousand. American homes. A study by microbiologists has shown that there are 16 species of fungi on both synthetic and feather bedding.

1. Hypoallergenic bedding – what to pay attention to?

Another allergen found in bedding – of course in homes where pets live – is pet hair.

Have we already given enough reasons why we should wash our bedding often enough?

How often do you wash bedding?

Most guides say that the bed linen should be changed every two weeks. However, there are factors that make us do it more often. If we sleep naked, animals live with us, we sweat profusely, it is worth doing it even every week. Also, when an allergy sufferer or a person with skin problems is sleeping in the bedding, we should do it more often.

1. As many as five million Poles suffer from various types of skin diseases

It also depends on the season. In summer, when we feel hot and sweat a lot, bed linen should be changed more often than in the winter months.

When changing bedding, it is also worth remembering to dust the mattress on which we sleep.

However, according to one of the authors of the above-mentioned studies, we should wash bedding every week, regardless of the circumstances.

“To avoid allergic reactions, we should wash sheets and sheets once a week,” said Philip Tierno, a microbiologist at the New York University School of Medicine. – If you pet a dog in the street, you probably want to wash your hands. Now imagine that this situation is analogous to your bed and ask yourself if you really want to sleep in it, Tierno added.

According to the microbiologist, we should also wash towels more often than we think – after a maximum of three uses.

Do you have a problem with choosing textiles for the bedroom? Check opinions about bedding sets on Opineo.pl.

How to wash bedding?

Bedding should be washed at 60 degrees Celsius to get rid of most of the mites. This temperature applies to cotton, which is the most common bedding material. At 60 degrees Celsius, you can also wash linen or bark bedding.

Delicate fabrics, such as flannel or satin, are washed at a lower temperature, ie 40 degrees C. They can also be washed at higher temperatures – it all depends on the information on the label.

To be sure that we get rid of mites completely, it is worth ironing the bedding. The temperature of the iron close to 100 degrees Celsius will make these microscopic creatures die.

How often to wash clothes?

Most clothes should be washed much more often than bedding. Underwear, socks, bathing suits, T-shirts and training clothes should be washed after each use.

Shirts, blouses and dresses should be washed after two uses at the latest.

For more information on how often to do the laundry, see the infographic below.

You may be interested in:

1. Six factors that can weaken a child’s immunity
2. Safe and healthy washing – 10 rules you need to remember
3. Air purifier – what to look for when choosing?

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